England capitalise on Wales’ poor performance

England's victory over Wales last Saturday at Twickenham ensured Martin Johnson's men got their RBS Six Nations campaign off to a winning start. They will take confidence from crossing the Welsh line three times courtesy of Harlequins scrum half Danny Care and a brace of tries from Stade Francais flanker James Haskell. The rest of the victors' points came from the left boot of World Cup winning fly half Jonny Wilkinson.

Care had his best game in an England jersey. We saw him at his sniping best, his box kicking was excellent and decision making much improved. The England pack provided him with a solid platform, with fellow Harlequin Nick Easter having a storming game both in the loose and the tight. He dominated the lineout in the first half, stealing three Welsh throw-ins from under the nose of opposite number Adam Powell.

Along with fellow back row colleague Haskell, Easter provided England with the necessary go forward so often lacking in the autumn internationals. Easter is fast becoming the rock upon which Johnson is building his pack, similar to Dean Richards and Lawrence Dallaglio in the 1991 and 2003 world cups respectively. If Care can consistently perform as he did last Saturday, England will once again have a very strong 8, 9, 10 spine to their team.

Although England scored three tries, they still lack the necessary creativity in the backs. They desperately missed centre Riki Flutey who had to drop out of the squad just days before the match with a dead leg sustained in training. He was replaced by Leicester's Toby Flood who unfortunately lacks the necessary bulk to play at inside centre which is vital to create space on the outside for the likes of Mathew Tait and Ugo Monye. Tait, at last playing in his preferred position of outside centre, looking threatening when given the space to run but needsto model his game on the likes of Ireland's Brian O'Driscoll and Wales' Jame Hook to prove he can create something out of nothing.

Wales played poorly. Second row Alun Wynn-Jones cynical trip on hooker Dylan Hartley towards the end of the first half cost his team dear. When he was in the sin bin, England capitalised and scored 17 points. It just goes to show what an excellent defensive player he is. Their lineout was dire and could not create a solid platform necessary for their fast-paced style. When Wales did get good ball, they persisted with using their back row to bash into midfield but Adam Powell and captain Ryan Jones did not have the necessary off-loading skills. They should have used Lions centre Jamie Roberts a lot more - indeed, when Roberts took the ball at pace into midfield, he sucked in three defenders, provided quick ball and Wales scored with ease.

Both teams were scrappy at times and this was epitomised by a dreadful intercept pass by Welsh fly half Stephen Jones which gifted England victory in the final five minutes. But Johnson will not mind one bit. The England manager realised the importance of a winning start to any campaign and will take heart from his team's ability to push home the advantage when they really needed to.